Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge

Don't you hate it when you want to take a photo of a card but need to wait for something to dry first??? That's what happened with this card, which I made for the SSS Flickr Challenge but I couldn't get my Glossy Accents to dry quick enough and lose the 'milky' look before the sun disappeared yesterday. So instead I came home after work today and photographed in the sun (luckily it was just before it suddenly turned dark and poured with rain.....) to add to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge instead!!

I hadn't used the single flower images from the SSS 'Beautiful Flowers' set and felt like doing some watercolouring with my Zig Real Color brush markers, while watching some Netflix....a wonderful combo:

I've used this SSS stamp set so often, its a wonder it hasn't fallen apart. The flowers are so fabulous to colour with paints, pencils or any colouring medium. I like colouring flowers with deep, large petals, its easier for me to work out the shading than on a flat image.

I started off by stamping the flowers on Strathmore Bristol Smooth CS with Versafine black ink and clear heat embossing. I used a waterbrush and the three Zig markers to colour each flower, going back for seconds and thirds after each layer had dried. Once I was happy I fussy cut them out. I worked out how they would sit on the card front, adhered them together and added foam tape to the back.

I wanted a background but nothing too colourful or patterned, so I used the three flower stamps and did second generation stamping using Waffle Flower 'Like a Pro!' ink, to create a softer image. I then popped the flowers in the middle.

The SSS 'hello' die was die-cut 3x from black CS, glued together and then on to the flowers. I added lots of Glossy Accents to make it shine. The rest of the sentiment (from SSS 'Beautiful Day') was white heat embossed on black CS and put on foam tape, along with sequins from Neat and Tangled.


As usual I'm typing this post around dinnertime but since its Friday night it means I don't need to rush to my stove-top to create a masterpiece as Pizza Hut will be doing it for me!! 

Phoebe has gone away to a friends for the weekend so I might set myself up in her bedroom with my craft stuff, so I can watch her Apple TV and pretend I have my own craft room. It will be extra good tomorrow night when Dave is watching the Rugby. We don't go near the tv when he's doing this as he makes so much noise yelling at the ref and screaming out encouragement for the All Blacks. I'll stay in my 'craft room' and scream out my thanks to Jennifer McGuire and her amazing ideas instead!!

Take care
Shona

AAA Card Challenge #122

So last week on Instagram I saw a video by Catherine Pooler's daughter Eva. She used Faber Castell 'Glass Bead Glitter Gel' on a stencil and flicked ink over it. The shimmery effect was so cool I decided to try and find the gel but I couldn't find any in New Zealand. However, I did come across Nuvo Glimmer Paste in 'Moonstone' (which I've seen other people use in videos) so I purchased it and it arrived in time for a rainy day yesterday.

I had a play around with it and posted a picture on Instagram of my result with a stencil. I've never been very confident with stencils, especially using pastes with them etc but this was so easy to do, I'm definitely hooked!! And it gave me a chance to make a card for the AAA Card Challenge:

Whats better than a rainbow? A rainbow with shimmer to it....you can just imagine how cool it looks in real life too!!

Basically I cut a panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth CS and adhered the MFT Stamps 'Captivating Mandala' to it, with only 3/4's of it on the panel. Then using my mini-blending tool and a 'rainbow' of Distress Inks, I blended away till I was happy with the colours. I then used a plastic palette knife and the Nuvo Glimmer Paste and spread it over the stencil. It was really easy to get it in all the 'nooks and crannies' which I thought was fabulous. I then very slowly removed the stencil and 'ta da'!!!!

I left it for a while to dry (it actually didn't take very long) and trimmed the panel down slightly. I wanted it to have some contrast from the white card base, so I adhered a strip of black CS on the right-hand side and then put the coloured panel on a piece of black foam. The sentiment from MFT Stamps 'Raving Racoons' was heat embossed in white on a strip of black CS and put on some black foam as well. I finished off with some clear drops from Studio Katia.

I'm also going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

 

I had another go with the Glimmer Paste on a stencil I made with CS and a die-cut. It was HORRIBLE as the die-cut went all mushy with the paste all over it. I might try doing it again making a die-cut stencil with acetate and see how that goes. Might have to buy some of the other Glimmer Paste colours now too.....will the buying ever stop????.....

Take care
Shona
 

 

Simon Says Stamp - Flickr Challenge #104 (Entry no. 2)

Today was like Summer once again and I spent many hours in a garden I hadn't visited for two months. Boy oh boy was I surprised at the amount of weeds for this time of year, everything is taking off with growth at least a month early!! I've just found out its supposed to rain sometime tomorrow now, good grief....

As I mentioned yesterday I had a Simon Says Stamp marathon card making session Wednesday afternoon, as it poured with rain all day. I was really hoping that my order from SSS would arrive but it seems to be taking the long way round from Auckland airport to my home....so hard to wait!!

In the meantime, I played around with the little SSS stash I have and used a die-cut I've had for a while but hasn't been in contact with my Cuttlebug for a long time:

I know its the same SSS 'Love' die again but I really love this one, especially how it has the shadow die with it...I could use it on everything!!

I started off by using Distress Ink 'Picked Raspberry' and a mini-blending tool on a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth CS, just colouring an area big enough for the SSS 'Stacked Hearts' die. I flicked some water over it and dabbed with a tissue to add some interest to the colour and then die-cut the panel along with a piece of white CS and black CS. 

Using liquid adhesive I glued the hearts die-cut to the card front and then glued in black, white and pink hearts randomly. I also added lots of Wink of Stella to the white hearts. 

For the sentiment I die-cut the 'love' 3x from black CS and glued them all together. I then die-cut the 'love shadow' from white CS, glued the black word on top and popped it up on foam tape. The rest of the sentiment is from the SSS 'Love' stamp set, heat embossed in white on a strip of black CS, also on foam tape. To finish off I added some sequins from Neat and Tangled and lots of Glossy Accents to the 'love'.

I'm also going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

I better get dinner on the table before the kids start eating the furniture!! I've got one more card to post tonight for the SSS Flickr challenge and then I'll be off to bed....I'm pooped!!

Take care
Shona
 

Simon Says Stamp - Flickr Challenge #104

Well, my wish came true and it rained today!! Max was also happy as he's been sick all week and we could stay home together. After doing all my chores I spent most of the afternoon having a 'Simon Says Stamp' marathon (while watching Netflix movies with Max), making last minute entries for the SSS Flickr Challenge #104 as their theme is 'Anything Goes'!!  I don't have many SSS products so its good to see how far I can stretch them!

I just adore this SSS 'Beautiful Flowers' stamp set, especially all the sketchy details. I think its gorgeous just in black ink, so decided to use that to create a simple CAS background. I simply stamped the large image with Versafine black ink in my MISTI, then turned the card around and stamped the otherside. Easy peasy!!

I think yellow, black and white always looks so stylish, so I die-cut the SSS 'love' from a yellow paint chip, along with a few others in black and glued them all together. I then die-cut the 'love shadow die' from the card front and also twice more from black CS. I added a panel of white CS behind the card front and inlaid the black die-cuts on top of each other. I then glued on the love die-cut from the card front on top but slightly higher to show the black underneath. The yellow was glued on top.

I white heat embossed the rest of the sentiment from the SSS 'Love' stamp set on a strip of black CS and adhered to the card front, along with some yellow sequins from Neat and Tangled and black beads.

I was going to put another card on my blog but everytime I set at my computer, Minnie the 'giant' kitten jumps on to my desk top and on to my shoulder, which makes it very hard to type. She's been doing it since she was a baby and I think she's not realised how big she is now. She loves to jump on my shoulder from anywhere high and when I reach down to pick her up, she stands up on her back legs with her arms raised, like a little toddler. She's definitely the 3rd baby I didn't get to have......

Take care
Shona
 

Your Next Stamp Challenge # 96

Its 5.30pm Tuesday and I'm absolutely wiped!! It hasn't rained the past two days which has been wonderful and means I've been able to garden. The only thing is that it has been around 20 degree (celcius) which is ridiculously warm for this time of year and I've been melting. I nearly put my shorts on today but it doesn't seem right to be doing it before Spring has even begun!! Global warming is crazy.....

Over the weekend I was able to do some colouring while watching a movie with Max. I really wanted to use one of my new Your Next Stamp sets and the current Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge had my imagination flowing:

I hadn't done a lot of pencil colouring lately, so was nice to get my Faber Castell set out and as usual I had pencil shavings everywhere....

All of the stamped images I used today are from YNS 'Happy Days Mermaids'. To start off I stamped the bubbles, crab, starfish and fish on the card front, (like the long strip of the YNS Sketch) and coloured with my pencils. I then stamped the mermaid on some white CS, used my pencils again and fussy cut her out.

I wanted to give the mermaid a background but didn't want to cover up the images on the card front, so I tried something different. I cut a square of plain vellum and on the back I blended Distress Ink 'Salty Ocean. I put the mermaid on foam tape on the vellum and added double-sided tape to the back of the vellum, behind the mermaid shape (so it couldn't be seen....). This was pressed on to the card front.

The sentiment was stamped in black on a strip of white CS, glued on to black CS and cut to a frame. I put it on foam tape, along with some sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm also going to link this to The Cats Pajama's Challenge #349 where their theme is 'Birthday'.

And will also link to The Daily Marker Coloring Challenge at the 'Beginner' level.

 


Its supposed to start raining tonight and into tomorrow and for once, I kind of want it too. I'm so exhausted at the moment, for no reason in particular, just because of my Fibromyalgia, which is so frustrating!! It doesn't usually bother me but every now and again it all catches up with me and I just need to stop. So if you hear someone squealing with delight, its just me having woken up to raindrops on the roof!!

Take care
Shona

Kat Scrappiness August Card Challenge

Its nearly 9.30pm Sunday night, so nearly my bed time but thought I'd share with you a card I made over the weekend!!

The Kat Scrappiness Challenge for August is 'Coffee and Critters' and they have this cute little kitty picture to get our creative juices flowing. Which was quite handy as I've slowly been making my way thru some of my new stamp sets and one of them is just kitties and coffee...how convenient:

This little cat looks so very upset and depressed, which is how I feel when I run out of Toblerone chocolate.....but I'm sure all you coffee drinkers out there can feel his pain when the coffee runs out!!

I stamped the cat (from Your Next Stamp 'Coffee Right Meow') on white CS, coloured with pencils and fussy cut him out. I then stamped the 'Depresso' using Altenew 'Dark Chocolate' ink, cut into a strip and then lightly coloured with Distress Ink 'Gathered Twigs'. I then stamped the other sentiment with black ink and blended the same Distress Ink around the fussy cut edge.

After cutting a panel of white CS smaller than my card front, I used a MFT Stamps 'Square Peek-a-boo Window' die from it. I worked out where the window would sit over the card front and blended the same Distress Ink over it and flicked with some water, which I dabbed with tissues.

I put the panel over the card front on foam tape and added the kitty on foam tape too. I also put the two sentiments on more foam tape (no wonder I go thru so much.....) and glued on some sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm also going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Food and/or Drink'.

I better go and check on the kids. Max has come down with his first cold in months, so he's very clogged and sniffy. I'm thinking he may not be at school tomorrow, what a shame it wasn't last Monday when I was home with the rain!! Its been a very good Winter for him and sickness, as usually he's sick the whole time. He hasn't even missed one basketball game this year, whereas last year he missed more than half. Maybe his body is finally learning to deal with germs....fingers crossed!!

Take care
Shona
 

The Cats Pajama's Challenge # 349

While going thru my 'stamps I purchased but haven't used yet because I buy more quickly than I craft' box, I came across one from The Cat's Pajama's that hadn't seen any action. And since its getting close to the end of their current challenge I thought it was about time it got inked!!

The Cats Pajama's Challenge has a 'Birthday' theme and I'm trying to make lots of birthday cards so I can get much better at sending them out in time.  Unfortunately I don't have any TCP 'birthday' sentiment stamps so my card is a real mish-mash of companies:

When I was a little girl, one of my favourite books was 'Leo the Lop', about a bunny with huge ears that used to fall over them and be teased by the other bunnies. I have it in a box somewhere, think that's why I love this bunny so much!

To start off I stamped the balloon image from TCP 'Drop In' on white CS and coloured with my pencils. I fussy cut it out and added foam tape behind it. I then die-cut some white CS with a Studio Katia 'Stitched Oval' die and used Distress Ink 'Salty Ocean' and MFT Stamps 'Cloud Stencil' to create the sky scene.

The sentiment is from MFT Stamps 'Birthday Bears' and was stamped in black ink on white CS. I adhered it to some black CS and cut around to create a frame. I also stamped some little butterflies from Waffle Flower 'Welcome Spring' on white CS, coloured with pencils and fussy cut out. The butterflies were glued in place and the sentiment and balloon put on foam tape.

To make the scene stand out I cut a panel of black CS and adhered to the card front and the oval was put on a piece of white foam. And of course I had to add some sequins from Neat and Tangled. 

I'm going to also link this to The Daily Marker Colouring Challenge in the 'Beginner' category. Have you looked thru the entries for this challenge?? My oh my there are some talented 'colouring' people in the crafting community!! 

Its pouring with rain yet again and 9pm, so I might go and jump in bed with my electric blanket, IPad and Toblerone. I'm trying to catch up on what's happening with Donald Trump and the Cohen trial etc. So much drama and love seeing the truth about Mr Trump slowly coming out..... I have such an exciting life!!

Take care
Shona
 
 

Reminder: TIME OUT Challenge # 116

Its raining again!!! I actually went gardening today and it was so wonderful to be outside and playing in the dirt (well it was actually more like mud....), I was very happy indeed. I got off the phone just before to confirm a gardening job for tomorrow morning and as I hung up it suddenly poured down....I can't win!! Oh well, if I have to stay home again tomorrow I'm going to make cards ALL DAY!!

Our current theme at TIME OUT is 'Bright' which is something I don't usually think about when making my cards, so I knew this one would be fun!

Our Sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers and they are giving the winner a $20 voucher to spend in their store!!

I really wanted to use one of my new dies for this card and for some bizarre reason I kept thinking of 'watermelon' for bright colours:

What do you think?? Does it remind you of a watermelon?? My seeds are a bit odd but I think you get the idea.... I'm really happy with how it turned out, makes me smile every time I look at it!

I used some bright green CS with the Your Next Stamp 'Sunburst Panel Die' and also die-cut again with white CS. I added lots of double-sided tape to a piece of white CS and adhered to the back of the green panel, this gave me somewhere to inlay the 'watermelon' pieces.

Using a mini-blending tool and Distress Inks 'Picked Raspberry' and 'Worn Lipstick' I coloured the insert pieces (from white CS), trying to mimic the colouring of a watermelon with it getting more pale towards the outside. I inlaid them all and then drew on some 'seeds' with my new Black Glaze Pen (which I bought from YNS). 

I put a piece of white foam behind the green panel and adhered to the card front. The sentiment (from YNS 'One in a Melon') was stamped with Versafine black ink and clear heat embossed on white CS. I fussy cut it out and put on foam tape, along with some black pearls. 

I'm going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Food/Drink'.

And will also link to the Stamplorations Summer Vacation Cutplorations Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

 

You have until Wednesday 29th August to link your projects to the TIME OUT Challenge and pop over to the blog to see what the rest of the Design Team and our fabulous Guest Designer Anila of Novel Ideas have created to inspire you. Really looking forward to seeing all your bright projects in the Gallery!!

Take care
Shona
 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - Girl Friday post #2 for August

Hi there everyone, hope your week is going well and your not having as much rain as I've experienced the past few days. I feel like I'm going to start growing webbed feet and I'm so sick of staying home and doing housework everyday. I miss being in the dirt!!

I'm up on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog today with this card:

Over the past few days we revealed the New Release products for August and I couldn't wait to use the new Be A Unicorn stamp set and Unicorn Fri-die again.

Pop on over to the CFS Blog if you'd like to find out how I put this together!!

Take care
Shona
 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - August New Release - Day 4

These past four days have gone so quickly, can't believe we are on our last day of showing off the August New Release products for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!!

For this last day we have something for all you dog lovers out there. I have a very large Golden Retriever and two cats so I'm caught in the middle but think I'm more of a dog person but don't tell my cats......

Introducing Nate and Friday: 

These dog images are based of Michele's (the owner of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) own Boston Terriers Nate and Friday. They are so cute and I love that the dogs are black and white so you can stamp and leave them as is!!

For my card I definitely had to use them both, as I'm sure they never like to be apart:

I thought a rainbow background would really make their black/white colouring really stand out on the card. And the little paw prints are so sweet!!

I started off by stamping the dogs a few times each on white CS with Versafine Ink and clear heat embossing. I then fussy cut them out and added foam tape to their backs.

For the background I die-cut the second-largest Bubble Box Fri-dies from white CS and stamped the paw print from the same stamp set randomly, using inks from Waffle Flower. This was put on the card front with a piece of white foam behind it and the dogs put on top. The sentiment (from the same stamp set) was heat embossed in gold and put on foam tape, along with some sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I really hope you've fallen in love with all these new products like I have. If your about to go on a spending spree (or going back for seconds....), don't forget to use my special code to save yourself 15%!!

And pop over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to see what the other Girl Fridays have created and you have the chance to win something for yourself!!

Take care
Shona
 

Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #24

After a stunning weekend of warm sunshine and the feeling of 'Springtime' its all come crashing back down to Winter today. Its been raining since 5am this morning and supposed to rain the whole week. And its so cold, I've got my thermals on and still my feet are freezing!!  I'm so behind with all my gardening, thank goodness everyone is very understanding. I know I don't have any control over the weather but I don't like letting people down again and again....

So while I've been home, in-between housework, I've been cleaning up my craft area and came across a lot of the images I coloured in the last 30 day colouring challenge. One of them is an image from Concord and 9th that I love and thought it was about time it made it on to a card:

My heat embossing was such a disaster with this image, mainly in the solid areas but hopefully you can look past that and enjoy all the pretty flowers and succulents!!

I heat embossed the C9 'Wonderful Florals' stamp set in white on kraft CS. I then coloured it in using my Faber Castell pencils and die-cut with the matching die. I decided I wanted to keep some of the letters in place but with solid kraft, so I die-cut it again from kraft CS and held them in place with washi tape. I then added lots of foam tape behind the whole image and put on some gray CS which had been adhered to a white card base. 

I heat embossed the 'friend' from the same C9 stamp set in white on a strip of kraft and glued in place, along with some sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm also going to link this to The Daily Marker Colouring Challenge in the 'Beginner' category.

I'm off with Max to basketball shortly and tonight I'm the coach. I've learned a little over the last few months but not enough to give them any pointers. Hopefully lots of encouragement will be enough to keep them going tonight and they have a great game!!

Take care
Shona

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - August New Release - Day 3

Wow, the response to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps August New Release products has been incredible and thank you so much everyone for all your wonderful comments!!

We are already up to Day 3 of the New Release and today we are showing off a new stamp and co-ordinating die set.

Introducing Bushy Tailed and Foxy Banner Fri-dies:

These are the sweetest little critters and love they come with co-ordinating dies for both the animals and the banner, which can be used with so many other sentiments!!

I wanted these two little cuties to be the star of my design, so kept everything pure white so they definitely stood out:

These are so much fun to colour and match up really well with the dies too, which makes a huge difference!

I started by stamping both of these critters with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white CS, coloured with Altenew Artist Markers and die-cut out with their co-ordinating dies.

To create somewhere for them to sit, I cut a panel of white CS the same size as my card front and then die-cut two holes using the smallest circle die from the Ornament Tag Fri-dies. I made a small mark with pencil where the holes would sit over the card front and blended Distress Ink 'Salty Ocean' over that area. I also sprinkled it with water and used tissues to remove some of the colour for a 'speckled' effect.

I added lots of foam tape to the die-cut panel and put it in place. I then added foam tape to the back of the critters and tucked them into the holes. I stamped the banner and sentiment (from the same Bushy Tailed set) and die-cut out. I added a little colour to it with one of the Altenew Artist Markers and popped it on foam tape, along with some gold and blue sequins from Neat and Tangled.

All of these New Release products are available right now to purchase. If you use my special code you can save yourself some money!!

Don't forget to pop over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to see what the rest of the Girl Fridays have created and there may also be the chance to win something for yourself.......

See you tomorrow for our final New Release day!!

Take care
Shona
 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - August New Release - Day 2

Hope you've had a chance to look at all the New Release products from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!! They are all available to purchase right now and we are spending the next few days introducing them to you with ideas on how to use them.

Today we are introducing Foxy: 

Isn't this the most beautiful stamp image?!! The detail in the drawing is incredible and love the foliage and flowers framing him. He is just divine and definitely one of my favourites from the New Release!!

I decided to stamp him in black ink so you could all see the detail of his fur, which is fabulous for helping with shading etc when colouring him in.

I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Strathmore Bristol Smooth CS and coloured the whole image using Altenew Artist Markers. I was going to fussy cut around him but decided to use one end of the largest Bubble Box Fri-dies to shape around the top. 

I found some paint chips that were a similar peachy colour to the flowers and adhered to the card front. I added a big piece of white foam to the back of the panel and put it over top. The sentiment (also from the Foxy stamp set) was heat embossed in gold on some plain vellum and adhered with some double-sided tape. I also glued on some gold and peach sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm sure you've fallen in love with this stamp set as much as I have, just make sure when you go to purchase him you use my special code to save yourself 15%, which could then go towards some more stamps or dies!!

So glad you stopped by and I'll see you back here tomorrow with another stamp and die set. The stamps are very cute, you won't want to miss it!!

Take care
Shona
 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - August New Release - Day 1

Hi everyone!! I've been so excited for this day to arrive, its finally Day 1 of the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps  August New Release!!!!

We have four days of new products to share with you and the fabulous thing is that they are available RIGHT NOW in the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Shop!  So as soon as you see the new stamps and dies, you can grab them straight away....yippee!!

Today we have one stamp set and co-ordinating dies to share with you. Introducing Be A Unicorn and Unicorn Fri-Die: 

 I was so happy when these new sets were revealed to us. The unicorn is so beautiful drawn and I love the sketchy style. And thank goodness it comes with a matching die, as my shaky hands wouldn't do well with fussy cutting that gorgeous mane!!

For my card I wanted to keep it soft and simple and of course add in some rainbow colours:

I must say that the die fits around the stamped image so perfectly, it makes such a difference!!

I started off by heat embossing the unicorn in white on some Strathmore Bristol Smooth CS. Using a waterbrush and Zig Real Color Markers I softly coloured the unicorn body in grey and then created a rainbow for the mane and tail. I even used some Gansai Tambi gold watercolour paint for the horn itself. 

I wanted to keep the background subtle but also add to the prettiness of the design, so I used Waffle Flower 'Safe Choice' ink on the large peace sign from the 'Peace Out' stamp set. I then stamped the sentiment (from the same Unicorn stamp set) in black and put the unicorn on foam tape. And I finished it off with some gold and coloured sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm going to link this to The Cats Pajama's Challenge #349 where their theme is 'Birthdays'.

Will also link to the Create Something Catchy August Challenge where their theme is 'Watercolour'.

And I almost forgot to link to The Daily Marker Colouring Challenge in the 'Beginner' category.

If you've taken one look at the unicorn stamps and dies and said to yourself you need them right now, don't forget to use my special code to save yourself 15% on your purchase!!

I hope you've fallen in love with the unicorn as much as I have and I can't wait to show you the rest of the new products. Don't forget to pop over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to see what the rest of the Girl Fridays have created with these new goodies. And I'll see you back here tomorrow with a new stamp set!!

Take care
Shona
 

Reminder: The Flower Challenge #23

Hi everyone, its up to Thursday for us here in NZ and the weather is just glorious!! Spring has come a whole month early but I don't want to enjoy it too much because I'm sure we will get hit with a huge snowstorm or something out of the blue..... Someone told me today that since the weather has turned 'Springy' early, it means we will have a really hot Summer.....fingers crossed!!

Our current theme at The Flower Challenge is 'One-layer card' and we already have some incredible entries in the Gallery. You still have another 10 days till the challenge finishes, so hopefully you can whip up a one-layer wonder or even join for a second or third time!!

For this card I went super-super simple and very CAS (Clean and Simple). Was channeling my inner Sandie of London Days. She runs the Time Out Challenge and creates such amazing CAS designs. Hopefully she will like this one:

I love dry embossing but for some reason I have a lot of trouble doing it with my Cuttlebug. I used the soft mat and change to both B plates but it still is a problem. So I used my 'kiwi ingenuity' and cut up a large cereal box into card-base sizes and add layers of those depending on what I'm embossing. Its a bit fiddly but works a treat!!

I started off by stamping the Concord and 9th 'Blooms Fill-in' stamp with my MISTI on some white CS. I didn't ink up the whole stamp as I only wanted one of the floral images. I stamped it 3x with Hero Arts 'Bubblegum' Shadow Ink. I used Waffle Flower 'You Said What?' to stamp the yellow centre detail, and then die-cut out with the co-ordinating die.

Using the same die I die-cut the floral shape from the middle of the card front. I then set up my Cuttlebug to dry emboss two sizes of the Studio Katia 'Stitched Oval dies' to add interest but no layers. I adhered a small piece of white CS behind the die-cut space so I could inlay the pink flowers. I then used the MISTI again to stamp the sentiment from Concord and 9th 'Brushed Blossom' a few times with Versafine black ink. And to finish off I glued on some clear and pink sequins from Neat and Tangled.

I'm going to link this to the Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #24, where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

You have until Saturday August 25th to link your projects to The Flower Challenge and pop over to the blog to see what else the rest of the Design Team have created to give you some ideas. Look forward to seeing your projects in the Gallery!!

Take care
Shona
 

Simon Says Stamp - Flickr Challenge #103

A few weeks ago I finally worked out how to use Flickr and get my photos uploaded to join the SSS Flickr Challenge #102. Well, you wouldn't believe it but I was a random winner of a $25 gift voucher, so of course I had to join again, they won't be able to keep me away now.....

For the current Simon Says Stamp - Flickr Challenge #103 the theme is 'Birthdays', which is quite funny as its actually my birthday this coming Friday!!

This is where its gets tricky......the card I created is one I came up with in the shower (I think about all sorts of things while doing my hair....) and it actually worked out as I imagined!! Its a very flat 'one-layerish' design but because it has a few folds its hard to photograph all at once. So I'm not sure how to put it on Flickr but I'll show you all the photos here so you see what I mean:

Okay, so this is how the card looks when you pull it out of the envelope. Then.....

You lift the top panel and it shows the full flower image. Then......

You open the floral panel to the right and expose the middle of the card.
Ta-da!!! 

Basically its a piece of white CS that's 11inches by 8.5inches and I cut out one corner of it! I used my line-trimmer to cut down to 5.5 inches, turned it around and then cut from there out to the edge, so one rectangle was removed. Does that make sense??? I then folded along the middle line and top-fold line.

I cut a piece of clear vellum and heat embossed the sentiment from SSS 'Beautiful Flowers' and adhered behind a rectangle I die-cut from the top panel using a die from Couture Creations. I then stamped the large floral images (from the same SSS stamp set) and coloured with my pencils, adding blue around the whole image. And lastly I stamped the inside msg from the same stamp set and some Neat and Tangled sequins to the front. 

Its a very clean and simple design that folds completely flat but has a lot to it!! I'm really happy with it and hope I explained it properly....

I'm also going to link this to The Cats Pajama's Challenge #349 where their theme is 'Birthdays'.

And I'm also going to link to The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge under the 'Beginner' section as I feel I've only really started getting into my colouring lately and have so much more to learn.

Now I just need to work out how to put all these photos on to Flickr so they can see how the card works. If you have any questions, please let me know. I could always get my daughter to video me while I cut out the basic card shape if that helps, as my description isn't always the best....

Take care
Shona